Device and a method for attaching a label on a folder cover

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for attaching a label on a folder cover.  
     According to the invention, the device comprises a fixture having a support surface ( 6 ) for the folder cover. The support surface ( 6 ) has first alignment means ( 2, 7, 8 ) for the alignment of a label and second alignment means ( 3, 4, 5 ) for the alignment of a folder cover on which the label is intended to be attached. The invention also relates to a method for attaching a label on a folder cover, a fixture in accordance with the invention being used.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device for attaching a label on a folder cover.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for attaching a label on a predetermined place on a folder cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Folders, brochures, books, magazines etc are usually produced in large editions and in an industrially automatic way where the respective cover gets its appearance by the fact that text and pictures are printed thereon. This type of products is outside the scope of the application area of the present invention.

It also happens that folders and the like are produced in small series for special purposes and by a low degree of automation. The present invention is particularly aimed at and intended for this type of folder production.

In these cases, the folder production is characterized by a relatively large element of manual handling. The production of this type of folders is normally carried out in connection with activities that have another aim and direction than production of printed matter. In these cases, the folders may relate to presentation of an annual report, project presentation, quotation documents, company presentation, account of an investigation, etc. There are many situations where the number of copies is small but where there still is a desire and need for a tidy and representative layout.

The production technique of folders suitable in these situations is adapted to afford manufacturing economy in spite of a very limited edition. This involves, among other things, that standardized components are formed to be adaptable to, and be used in, different situations.

A piece of printed matter of the kind in question typically comprises a bundle of sheets containing what is to be presented and a surrounding folder cover in which the sheets are attached. For reasons that should be clear from what has been described above, said folder covers can normally not be provided with printing. In order to enable an economic handling, the folder covers are entirely anonymous to be useable for different contents in the folder.

However, the need remains to give also the folder cover an attractive and informative outside. A way to do this is to attach a label on the front side thereof, which contains the text and/or pictures by means of which it is desired to present the contents of the particular series of folders. As this is made manually, in that connection there is the risk that the label ends up at an angle or on another place than what was intended. In view of the size of the series concerned in these situations, simultaneously there is no room for mechanization for attaching the label with the purpose of avoiding the shortcomings involved in the manual handling.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a possibility of ensuring, by very simple means, a correct placement of a label on a folder cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the first aspect of the invention, the object proposed has been achieved by the fact that a device for attaching a label on a folder cover comprises the special features that the device comprises a fixture having a support surface for the folder cover, which support surface has first alignment means for the alignment of a label intended to be laid in the fixture and second alignment means for the alignment of a folder cover on which the label is intended to be attached.

Such a fixture can be formed very simple and then become economically defensible in a marked manual handling. The fixture can be used for labels having different imprints and accordingly be utilized for series of folders of different types and contents. The fixture ensures a correct position of the label on the folder cover thanks to alignment means for the label as well as for the folder cover.

According to a preferred embodiment of the fixture, it is formed as a plate, on one side of which said support surface is situated.

This embodiment represents the simplest and thereby the most inexpensive realization of the fixture.

According to an additional preferred embodiment, the first alignment means comprises at least one countersink in the support surface.

A countersink in the support surface is a very simple and simultaneously reliable design of the alignment means for the label. The countersink may suitably correspond to the contour of the label so that it guides in all directions. Alternatively, it is feasible that the countersink only comprises the area next to one of the corners of the label or next to some of or all the corners.

According to a preferred embodiment, the countersink has a depth of 0.1-10 mm.

It is desirable that the countersink is relatively shallow, since this makes the fixture simpler. A shallow countersink facilitates the subsequent attachment that initially takes place by the folder cover being pressed against the glued back side of the label. The larger the countersink, the more the folder cover has to bend when it is pressed down against the label, and this may unnecessarily make the handling more difficult, particularly in the case of folder covers that are thick and stiff. However, it has to be sufficiently deep so as to align the label in a distinct way. Too shallow a countersink entails that the label runs the risk of being laid wrong or being displaced from the position thereof when the folder cover is laid on top.

The given interval is an interval that entails that the above-mentioned facets are taken into consideration. The most suitable area should be approx. 0.5-2 mm deep.

According to an additional preferred embodiment, the second alignment means is projecting upward from the support surface and arranged to provide alignment of the folder cover in two directions perpendicular to each other in the plane of the support surface.

This entails the greatest possible simplicity and operatability of the alignment means for the folder cover.

According to an additional preferred embodiment, the second alignment means comprises a first border running in a first of said directions and a second border running in the second one of said directions.

A design using borders of this type allows the greatest possible exactness by very simple means.

According to an additional preferred embodiment, the second alignment means comprises a third border arranged in line with said second border.

By having two borders for one of the alignment directions, the accuracy of the turning direction can be improved in a simple way.

According to an additional preferred embodiment, each border has a length that is 1-20% of the longest dimension of the support surface, and the distance between the outer ends of the second and third border is 50-100% of the longest dimension of the support surface.

When three borders are used, each border may be made very short with maintained securing of the angle position. Therefore, the given interval limits of the border length is satisfactory and entails a small material consumption. For the two borders lying in the same line, it is advantageous if they are so distant from each other as possible, since this affords improved precision in the turning direction. The given interval of the distance between the borders meets this facet in a well-balanced way.

According to an additional preferred embodiment, the first alignment means comprises means for the provision of a plurality of alignment alternatives.

This gives flexibility so that the fixture can be used for labels of different sizes and formats and for attaching the label on different areas on the folder cover.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the object proposed has been achieved by a method for attaching a label on a predetermined place on a folder cover comprising the particular steps of placing the label in a fixture having first and second alignment means, the label being aligned into a predetermined position by means of the first alignment means and having the attaching surface facing away from the fixture, whereupon the folder cover is placed on top of the label in the fixture and is aligned into a predetermined position by means of the second alignment means.

By means of the invented method, a label can be attached on a folder cover in a very simple way and with a high accuracy as regards the placement of the label on the sheet.

According to advantageous embodiments of the invented method, it is applied while utilizing the invented fixture or preferred embodiments of the same.

Thereby, advantages of the corresponding type that have been given above regarding the invented fixture and preferred embodiments of the same are gained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fixture according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a first step of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a second step of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a third step of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth step of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment example according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ADVANTAGEOUS EMBODIMENT EXAMPLES

FIG. 1 shows a fixture according to a first embodiment example of the invention. The fixture is arranged on a rectangular plate 1, the topside of which is a support surface 6 for the folder cover on which a label is to be attached. The fixture is provided with first alignment means 2, 7, 8 for a label intended to be attached on the folder cover. The alignment means is a rectangular depression 2 having side edges 7, 8.

Furthermore, there is second alignment means 3, 4, 5 in the form of a first border 3, a second border 4, and a third border 5.

The borders 3, 4, 5 are intended for the alignment of the folder cover on which the label is to be attached.

The procedure for attaching a label on the folder cover is seen in FIGS. 2-5.

In FIG. 2, it is illustrated how a label E is placed in the depression 2 so that two of the edges of the label abut against the side edges 7, 8 of the depression. In the example shown, the label E has a size and contour that corresponds to the size and contour of the depression, and will accordingly fill out the same entirely. Naturally, the fixture may be used for labels of smaller size in respect of length and/or width and in doing so be aligned against one of the corners of the depression.

The label E that is placed in the depression is suitably provided with glue on the back, i.e., the side that is turned upward when the label E is placed in the depression 2.

Next attachment step is illustrated in FIG. 3, where the label E is laid in place and a folder cover M is placed on top of the label E. The folder cover is aligned against the borders 3, 4 and 5, and will then get a predetermined position in relation to the label E.

FIG. 4 shows the folder cover M in the correct position in the fixture. By an light pressure on the topside of the folder cover H, the label is attached to the folder cover H.

Next, the folder cover H with the label E adhered is taken out from the fixture, and if required, the label E may by hand, as is shown in FIG. 5, be pressed to attach properly to the folder cover M.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment example where the alignment means is arranged to be capable of placing a label of another size and in another position than a first alternative. In the depression 2, a second depression 2 a is recessed, adapted to receive a label of another format and in another position than what is determined by the depression 2.

Correspondingly, a plurality of depressions may be arranged for the provision of further options as for the size and placement of the label.

An alternative possibility of adaptation to other label sizes and positions is that there is a number of ruler-shaped gauge blocks as equipment for the fixture, and by means of which adaptation to alternative sizes and positions of a label is attained. 

1. A device for attaching a label (E) on a folder cover (M), which device comprises a fixture having a support surface (6) for the folder cover (M), characterized in that the support surface (6) has at least one countersink (2, 7, 8) for the alignment of a label (E) intended to be laid in the fixture and second alignment means (3, 4, 5) for the alignment of a folder cover (H) on which the label (E) is intended to be attached, which second alignment means (3, 4, 5) is arranged in such a way that upon the alignment, the folder cover is displaceable in and is aligned in two directions perpendicular to each other in the plane of the support surface.
 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixture is a plate (1), on one side of which said support surface (6) is situated.
 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the countersink (2) has a depth of 0.1-10 mm.
 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second alignment means (3, 4, 5) is projecting upward from the support surface.
 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second alignment means (3, 4, 5) comprises a first border (3) running in a first one of said directions and a second border (4) running in the second one of said directions.
 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the alignment means (3, 4, 5) comprises a third border (5) arranged in line with said second border (4).
 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that each border (3, 4, 5) has a length that is 1-20% of the longest dimension of the support surface, and that the distance between the outer ends of the second (4) and third (5) border is 50-100% of the longest dimension of the support surface.
 8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first alignment means (2) comprises means (2 a) for the provision of a plurality of alignment alternatives.
 9. A method for attaching a label on a predetermined place on a folder cover, the label being placed in a fixture having a support surface for the folder cover, characterized in that the label is aligned into a predetermined position determined by a countersink in the support surface and with the attaching surface facing away from the fixture, whereupon the folder cover is placed on top of the label in the fixture and is aligned into a predetermined position by means of a second alignment means, the alignment being carried out in two directions perpendicular to each other in the plane of the support surface, in which directions the second alignment means allows displacement of the folder cover.
 10. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the method is exercised while using a fixture according to claim
 1. 